History was written today at the Kima Trophy, second race on the Skyrunner® Extreme Series, with Emelie Forsberg taking the win at her third attempt and Nepali Bhim Gurung smashing Kilian’s record.
Emelie has had the Kima fever since she started skyrunning back in 2012. A biennial race, she came back in 2014 aiming for victory but it was not to be and again she took second place. This year she won the battle with herself to realise her dream. After knee injury earlier this year, she trained hard to meet the punishing demands of this iconic course – and it paid off. She crossed the line, radiant and smiling, her tears of 2014, forgotten. Her time of 7h49’06” leaves the standing record set by Nuria Picas in 2012 at 7h36’21”.
“I started off pretty conservatively. My knee was feeling good. Only my endurance wasn’t great – I’m probably still 10% off my peak,” she remarked. “I’m very, very happy!”
New Zealander Ruth Croft was an excellent second in 8h06’45” at her first attempt on such a technical course. Third was Italy’s Emanuela Brizio in 8h21’42”. Two-time race winner, today, she celebrated her 6th Kima podium today.
We forecast both the weather and the competition were going to be hot – and so it was. The stacked men’s field was as tight as it could be with just seconds separating the pack leaders right along the course, leaving everyone guessing as to the outcome until the last five kilometres.
The winner was Nepali Bhim Gurung who smashed the standing course record held by Kilian Jornet, closing, victorious, in 6h10’44”. Race favourite Marco De Gasperi who had taken over the lead on the latter stages of the race also finished under record time in 6h12’09”. Third place went to Frenchman Léo Viret in 6h15’05”. Throughout the entire race, the top four men jostled with the lead, all within just a minute of each other. Despite cutting half an hour off his 2014 time, Tom Owens finished fifth after a difficult race pushed by so much strong competition. He still leads the men’s Extreme Series ranking. Spaniard Manuel Merillas, second in 2014, had to retire.
On the last stretch of the race, Gurung stole the lead from De Gasperi.
“Initially I didn’t think I’d do well here,” said Gurung. “I’m used to racing longer distances. However, when I got into it I felt good and stayed with the group until the last downhill – where I went for it.”
The Kima Trophy, situated in the central Italian Alps, has become a legend in its lifetime. Dating back nearly 20 years, the race became biennial in 2008. The 52 km course with a massive 8,400m of ascent and descent crosses seven passes almost 3,000m high – over moraine, snowfields and exposed crests with fixed ropes at key points.
Testimony to the appeal of this gruelling race runners from no less than 35 countries took part – an incredible result considering it is capped at 250 runners.
The three-race Extreme Series is presented by Alpina Watches awarding an Alpina Horological Smartwatch to the winners of the ALPINA SMART TIME PRIZE.
The prize is based on timing of the first ten men and five women at the highest point of the race – in this case, Cameraccio at 2,950m altitude. A bonus is given to younger and older competitors, putting everyone at the same level, irrespective of the final race results. The winners today were Marco De Gasperi and Emanuela Brizio.
The final of the three-race Extreme Series will take place in Scotland on September 18 with the Salomon Glen Coe Skyline.
The Skyrunner® World Series now heads for the rugged Montana mountains where a Vertical, Sky and Ultra Series race will take place at The Rut.
Kima Trophy results
Men
1. Bhim Gurung (NEP) – 6h10’44”
2. Marco De Gasperi (ITA) SCOTT Running– 6h12’09”
3. Leo Viret (FRA) Crazy Idea – 6h13’19”
4. Alexis Sevennec (FRA) SCOTT Running – 6h15’05”
5. Tom Owens (GBR) Salomon – 6h15’55”
Women
1. Emelie Forsberg (Salomon) – 7h49’06”
2. Ruth Croft (NZL) SCOTT Running – 8h06’45”
3. Emanuela Brizio (ITA) Valetudo – 8h21’42”
4. Holly Page (GBR) – 8h37’22”
5. Roser Espanyol (ESP) – 8h37’38”
Extreme Series ranking
Men
1. Tom Owens (GBR) Salomon – 168 points
2. Jonathan Albon (GBR) – 150 points
3. Bhim Gurung (NEP) – 100 points
4. Philipp Reiter (GER) Salomon – 94 points
5. Marco De Gasperi (ITA) SCOTT Running/Compressport – 88 points
Women
1. Natalia Tomasiak (POL) Salomon – 124 points
2. Emelie Forsberg (SWE) Salomon – 100 points
3. Jasmin Paris (GBR) inov-8 – 100 points
4. Ruth Croft (NZL) SCOTT Running – 88 points
5. Malene Haukøy (NOR) Dynafit – 88 points
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